Who is Jonathan Clark

Untitled Part 8

                                                                                  CHAPTER EIGHT

                                                                                THE HOME FRONT

At home Clark Stores were producing a healthy profit, especially in the months leading up to Christmas. Outdoor activities in the States of New York, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania were extremely big business. Although the figures were good Jonathan was frustrated at being squeezed by his U.S suppliers who accounted for around 30% of his turnover. These people, thought Jonathan were making money merely as go -betweens as the products were originally sourced abroad. He had on various occasions tried to cut them out, but they had solid arrangements in place with the manufacturers. His thoughts wandered to his dealings in West Africa as now they so often did. How much, he thought would it cost to build a medium sized factory in each of the four Countries, only large enough to supply his own Stores. He could employ 500 workers in each one, even more if he increased his Stores to ten, but this would be in the future for the moment that was not in the deal. 

Jonathan, following their meeting in Conakry had been in constant contact with Angela who now on her own suggestion was a full employee of the newly formed C.L.A. Holdings. All had gone well with the Ministers of the other West African Countries of Sierra Leone, Gambia and Senegal. The land had been purchased and clearing for proposed building work, albeit slowly had begun.

Christmas Day had arrived at the Clark household, all of the family were present along with Constance's parents Henry and Melissa Blake. They had spent every Christians and Thanks -Giving together for the past ten years. Jonathan was fond of his wife's family, in his mind they were good people. They could however mainly because of their religious beliefs, at times become quite boring and always seemed able to introduce the subject to any conversation. The main source of disagreements were the children. Jonathan was not a religious person, Constance fifty-fifty and with Henry and Melissa being devout Catholics this made them almost suicidal. "Well" thought Jonathan, carving the Turkey, "hopefully this could be the year it is not mentioned"

"Wrong, Henry and Melissa had only just attended a christening two weeks previous and could not wait to tell Constance how beautiful the ceremony was, and how Father Delaney had mentioned not seeing the children at Mass.

Jonathan was watching as if from high up in a corner of the room thinking how ridiculously unimportant this conversation was. He wondered what everyone around the table, stuffing themselves with good food and opening their presents while winging over whether children were christened or not would make of the families in West Africa with nothing, sleeping ten to a hut, eating if they were lucky every second day and the children never attending school, while drinking unclean water. Had Henry and Melissa's God forgotten about these unfortunate people or maybe the land of the God's, so called Heaven was as on Earth there were rich Gods and poor Gods, violent Gods and Gods of Peace. Either way none of them were helping the poor unfortunates of West Africa.

After the trials of putting the world to rights and the children had gone to bed it was time to relax on the sofa with a large Gin and Tonic. "Just another Christmas Day" said Constance, "They just won't let go every year is the same old thing, how can you be so calm with them?

"You can never change peoples beliefs Constance" answered Jonathan, sitting back on his chair enjoying his first chance to relax all evening. "Your parents are trapped in a bubble, it is not that they cannot get out there is safety in that bubble, they want us to come in. They are not alone people like your parents are very integral, they live in a small town which they very rarely leave, own a sensible home, drive a sensible car, have their breaststroke, lunch and dinner at the same time every day and go to bed at the same time every night"

"We do the same things" said Constance, "does that mean we are integral?

"I don't know" answered Jonathan, "and that scares me"

Constance snuggled up to her husband, partly because of the wine and partly thinking he was in a vulnerable place. She kissed him on the neck and then the cheek, "put your glass down darling" she said, "I haven't given you your Christmas present" slipping her hand towards his groin.

"For goodness sake" said her surprised husband, "there is a time and place for everything"

"The time is now and the place is bed" said Constance. She sat for a moment finishing her wine, "I noticed when he was ridiculing everyone for doing the same things he never mentioned sex, well Jonathan Clark" she thought,"I have had enough"